Eccentric geomagnetic dipole drift

A recalculation of the rate of westward drift of the eccentric geomagnetic dipole since 1900 has confirmed its correlation with irregularities in the excess length-of-day (LOD) as originally reported by Vestine. The major changes in the LOD curve since 1900 are shown to be well correlated with the westward drift rate from a number of magnetic models covering the interval. A new Magsat model of secular variation for 1980.0 shows no increase in the drift rate which dropped by a factor of three in the interval 1965–1970.     

Cumulating processes at the crust-mantle transition zone inferred from Permian mafic-ultramafic xenoliths (Puy Beaunit,France)

Ultramafic and mafic xenoliths of magmatic origin, sampled in the Beaunit vent (northern French Massif Central), derive from the Permian (257 Ma) Beaunit layered complex (BLC) that was emplaced at the crust-mantle transition zone (∼1 GPa). These plutonic xenoliths are linked to a single fractional crystallisation process in four steps: peridotitic cumulates; websteritic cumulates; Al-rich mafic cumulates (plagioclase, pyroxenes, garnet, amphibole and spinel) and finally low-Al mafic cumulates. This sequence of cumulates can be related to the compositional evolution of hydrous Mg basaltic magma that evolved to high-Al basalt and finally to andesitic basalt. Sr and Nd isotopic compositions confirm the co-genetic character of the various magmatic xenoliths and argue for an enriched upper mantle source comparable to present mantle wedges above subduction zones. LILE, LREE and Pb enrichment are a common feature of all xenoliths and argue for an enriched sub-alkaline transitional parental magma. The existence of a Permian magma chamber at 30 km depth suggests that the low-velocity zone observed locally beneath the Moho probably does not represent an anomalous mantle but rather a sequence of mafic/ultramafic cumulates with densities close to those of mantle rocks.     

An experimental investigation of water level effects on the dynamic behaviour of a large arch dam

The need for full‐scale dynamic tests, which are recognized as the most reliable method to evaluate a structure's vibration properties, is increasing as new analysis techniques are developed that take into account the complex interaction phenomenons that occur in dam–reservoir–foundation systems. They are extremely useful to obtain reliable data for the calibration of newly developed numerical methods. The Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics Research Center (CRGP) at the University of Sherbrooke has been developing and applying dynamic testing methods for large structures in the past 10 years. This paper presents the experimental evaluation of the effects of the varying water level on the dynamic response of the 180 m Emosson arch dam in Switzerland. Repeated forced‐vibration tests were carried out on the dam during four different periods of the reservoir's filling cycle during a one‐year span. Acceleration and hydrodynamic pressure frequency responses were obtained at several locations while the dam was subjected to horizontal harmonic loading. The variation of the resonant frequencies as a function of the reservoir level is investigated. A summary of the ongoing numerical correlation phase with a three‐dimensional finite element model for the dam–reservoir–foundation system is also presented. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Approach for Classification of Groundwaters by Synchronous Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Discriminant Analysis

Monitoring and evaluation of groundwater quality in drinking water protectorates is of particular interest if the uncontrolled entry of pollutants, for example by infiltrating river water, cannot be excluded. A fluorescence spectroscopic method is presented as possible alternative to the conventional expensive hydrochemical investigations. This method uses the information yielded by synchronous fluorescence spectra. After a Fourier transformation of the original spectra and a following discriminant analysis, the samples can be classified in different groups corresponding to the different types of groundwater. The method was tested in the drinking water protectorate of a waterworks of a German metropolis (Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt). We found a prediction rate of about 90% in the investigated case.     

Über die Zufuhr von Turbulenzenergie durch Grenzflächenreibung und labile Schichtung

Zusammenfassung In einer turbulenten Strömung wird die Arbeitsleistung der mittleren Schubspannung an den Begrenzungen durch deren Rauhigkeit in Turbulenzenergie umgewandelt. Das Resultat ist ein Austauschstrom dieser Energie von der Begrenzung in die Flüssigkeit hinein. Dies kann ein sehr wesentlicher Beitrag zur Aufrechterhaltung seiner Turbulenz werden, insbesondere in Fällen stabiler Schichtung in Bodennähe.In den bekannten Ableitungen des Richardsonschen Turbulenzkriteriums und in der gebräuchlichen Gleichung für die Änderung der Turbulenzenergie scheint man diesen Randeinfluß nicht zu berücksichtigen. Beide Beziehungen versagen außerdem bei Anwendung auf neutrale Schichtung. Für diesen Fall liefern sie, wie von K. L. Calder [1949] und O. G. Sutton [1949] bemerkt, eine ständige Zunahme der Turbulenzenergie, weil die Arbeitsleistungen der Zusatzgeschwindigkeiten gegen die turbulenten Schwankungen des Druckgradienten unberücksichtigt blieben. Bei einer korrekten Ableitung und Anwendung sind sie ebenso in Rechnung zu stellen wie die Konvergenz obigen Austauschstromes der Turbulenzenergie.

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On the supply of turbulent energy by boundary friction and unstable stratification

Summary In a turbulent current, the work of the average shearing stress is transformed into eddy energy by the roughness of its boundaries. The result is a turbulent transport of this energy from the boundary into the fluid. This may become an essential contribution to maintaining the turbulence of the current, especially in cases of stable stratification next to the bottom.This influence of the boundary has apparently been considered neither in the known derivations of Richardson's criterion of turbulence nor in the usual equation of the change of eddy energy which both, in addition, fail when being applied to neutral stratification. In this case, the criterion gives a permanent increase of eddy energy contrary to the observations already stated by K. L. Calder [1949] and O. G. Sutton [1949], since the work of the eddy velocities against the fluctuations of the gradient of pressure is not taken into account. In a correct derivation and application we have to consider both, this work and the convergence of the eddy flow of turbulent energy normal to the smoothed boundaries.

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Sur la formation d'énergie turbulente causée par la friction des surfaces de séparation et par la stratification labile

Résumé Dans un courant turbulent le rendement moyen du frottement tangentiel auprès des limites solides est transformé en énergie turbulente grâce à la rugosité de ces limites. Le résultat en est un transport de cette énergie à partir des limites solides jusqu'à l'intérieur de la fluide. Cette énergie peut essentiellement contribuer à la conservation de la turbulence du courant, surtout en présence d'une stratification stable au voisinage du sol.Il semble que l'on ne tienne pas compte de cet effet des limites solides dans les dérivations connues du critérium de turbulence d'après Richardson et dans l'équation usuelle concernant le changement de l'énergie turbulente. En outre, ces deux relations ne correspondent pas aux observations lorsqu'on essaie de les appliquer à la stratification neutre, ce qui était déjà constaté par K. L. Calder [1949] et par O. G. Sutton [1949]. Le critérium fournit dans ce cas-là une augmentation permanente de l'énergie turbulente parce que le rendement de la vitesse additionnelle qui a une influence affaiblissante sur les variations turbulentes du gradient de pression n'est pas considéré. Afin d'assurer une dérivation et une application correcte il est nécessaire de considérer l'influence affaiblissante de la vitesse additionnelle sur les variations du gradient de pression aussi bien que de tenir compte du transport de l'énergie turbulente à partir des limites solides jusqu'à l'intérieur de la fluide.

     

Determination of Total Organic Carbon Content and δ13C in Carbonate-Rich Detrital Sediments

The determination of total organic carbon content and composition in detrital sediments requires careful removal of their carbonate minerals. In detrital sediments containing large amounts of carbonates, including dolomite, this can only be achieved by liquid acid leaching that may solubilise a significant proportion of the organic carbon. For a set of detrital sediments from the Himalayan system and the Amazon River as well as five geological reference materials, we determined the proportion of organic carbon (C_org) solubilised during acid leaching. This proportion is significant for all analysed sediments and generally tends to increase with the organic carbon content. Compared to other types of sediments analysed, clay fractions extracted from river sediments and bed sediments with very low organic carbon content have high and low proportions of acid soluble C_org respectively. In Himalayan and Amazon river sediments, the proportion of C_org solubilised during acid leaching was relatively constant with average values of 14 and 19 % respectively. Thus, it is possible to correct the C_org content for the dissolved organic carbon content measured after decarbonation. Data presented here show that C_org dissolved during liquid acid leaching must be taken into account. After careful calibration, the method presented here should, therefore, be applied to any carbonate-rich detrital sediment.     

Mid-Holocene to present-day evolution of the Indian monsoon in transient global simulations

The low-frequency evolution of Indian rainfall mean-state and associated interannual-to-decadal variability is discussed for the last 6000 years from a multi-configuration ensemble of fully coupled global transient simulations. This period is marked by a shift of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) distribution towards drier conditions, including extremes, and a contraction of the rainy season. The drying is larger in simulations with higher horizontal resolution of the atmosphere and revised land surface hydrology. Vegetation–climate interactions and the way runoff is routed to ocean modulate the timing of the monsoon onset but have negligible effects on the evolution of seasonal rainfall amounts in our modeling framework in which carbon cycling is always active. This drying trend is accompanied by changes in ISMR interannual-to-decadal variability decreasing over north and south India but increasing over central India (20°–25° N). The ISMR interannual-to-decadal variability is decomposed into six physically consistent regimes using a clustering technique to further characterize its changes and associated teleconnections. From 6 to 3.8 kyr bp, the century-to-century modulations in the frequency of occurrence associated to the regimes are asynchronous between the simulations. Orbitally-driven trends can only be detected for two regimes over the whole 6–0 kyr bp period. These two regimes reflect increased influence of ENSO on both ISMR and Indian Ocean Dipole as the inter-hemispheric energy gradient weakens. Severe long-term droughts are also shown to be a combination of long-term drying and internally generated low-frequency modulations of the interannual-to-decadal variability.

     

Vertical migration ofcentropages typicus (copepoda) in Chesapeake Bay,with some thoughts on migration studies

Centropages typicus was collected at two hour intervals over a diel cycle at a station near the Chesapeake Bay mouth. The species migrated upward at dusk and downward at dawn. Neither light, temperature, salinity, nor density appeared to cue the migration. Attention is drawn to the need for information on the extent and regularity of migration by individual organisms, and how the lack of such information may lead to poor interpretations of migration data.     

Die Vertikaländerung des beschleunigungsfreien Windes in äquatorialen Breiten

Zusammenfassung Wie in mittleren und höheren Breiten bedingt auch am Äquator die meridionale Temperaturverteilung eine Vertikaländerung des reibungs- und beschleunigungsfreien Windes. Allerdings darf man dabei keine Drehung des Windvektors erwarten, da, wie gezeigt wird, sowohl am Äquator als auch in seiner Umgebung ausschliesslich rein zonale stationäre und beschleunigungsfreie Strömungen (bei verschwindenden zonalen Änderungen des Temperatur- und Druckgradienten) in Betracht kommen.

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Summary At the equator vertical variations of a frictionless and unaccelerated wind are caused by the meridional distribution of temperature in a similar way as in higher latitudes. Nevertheless there cannot be expected any deviation of the wind vector with high since only pure zonal winds free of acceleration may be possible around the equator and in its neighbourhood.